Sports Mama Review: Vettex Doubleguard Mouthguard with Lip Protection

Hey Sports Mamas! I'm back with another review for you all! 

As a football player, mouthguards are a must. No ifs, ands or buts about it! No. 1 was recently sent a Vettex Doubleguard Mouthguard with Lip Protection to try out. They offer 4 key features; ultimate protection, breathability, comfort, and no boiling needed.

They are custom fitted with double impressions to absorb shocks and lock down defense for lips, teeth, and braces. This makes them safe for braces and orthodontics. Vettex are also made with pliable thermo rubber for extra comfort. The adjustable strap attaches to helmets and face shields... no more lost mouthguards! As a sports mama, I know you all can appreciate that! 

They also have two built-in breathing channels to ensure maximum breathability and airflow during play. Another cool feature is that you can skip the boil! Vettex are ready to wear right out of the package (they can still be boiled and molded if your athlete prefers). And finally, they come in 23 different colors... players can rep their team or any other cause near and dear to their hearts.

So what did my collegiate QB/WR think about them?

He really likes them! Says he can breathe easily while using it, great range of colors to choose from, and they look good (in big part due to the minimal branding). The only drawback he gave is position specific; he said it's tough for him to talk/call plays when he's in at quarterback. He did mention that Lamar Jackson uses them though! At only $11.99 each, I'd definitely encourage your quarterback to buy one and form their own conclusions. 

I hope you found this review helpful! If you did and are ready to purchase one for your athlete, click here. (They offer 10% off when you buy two or more at the same time!)

Good luck to your athletes this weekend!

*** Vettex was kind enough to send me their product, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own (and my collegiate athlete's!) ***

Sports Mama Review: SHOC Zero G Plus Football Visor & Visor Clips

Hi there, Sports Mamas! Long time no see blog. Like many of you, I'm knee deep in football season. No. 1 is in his second year of college football! (Seriously, how did we get here so quickly?!). Our weekends are filled with traveling, tailgates, and games. But I promise you that I wouldn't have it any other way. The days are long, but the years are short, way too short.

Ok, enough with the sappy stuff. I wanted to jump on to give you all (especially my fellow football mamas) a review. How many of your football players wear visors? How many of them want a visor? How many of you have no clue what a football visor is? Well, I'm here to help!

No. 1 has worn a visor since youth league. Their primary purpose is protection. Visors shield players eyes from injury. They also keep grass and turf out of them. As well as reduce facemask injuries and penalties due to the openings being reduced, which block fingers from grabbing on to them and bringing you down.

And for many players they choose to wear them because: Look good. Feel good. Play good!

No. 1's visor of choice is the SHOC Zero G Plus.

SHOC's visors are made from the highest grade of ultra-light polycarbonate in the industry, providing the highest of breakage strength as well as the best UV protection. Because of their exceptional fit as well as the quality of the lens material, they are highly unlikely to crack. Making them the safest in the game.

No. 1 says the visor fits his Riddell Speedflex helmet perfectly. (Although this particular visor was originally manufactured to fit that helmet specifically, testing has shown it to fit ALL current football helmets in today's market- with the exception of the Riddell Axiom). He also said that it is easy to put on and off and does not fog on him.

He's tried other visors over the years and says that the SHOC is definitely his top choice and superior to others.

SHOC includes a storage bag as well as a pair of visor clips with every order.

Their visor clips fit all SHOC visors as well as ALL other visors on the market. They have 13 colors to choose from, from carolina blue to hot pink!

Don't have a football player? SHOC also makes lacrosse and softball visors! Click HERE to purchase and receive 15% off your athlete's visor today!

I hope I've helped answer all of your visor related questions. 

If not, please feel free to reach out to me and I will get back to you as soon as I can. 

Enjoy the rest of your football season, Sports Mamas!!!

*** SHOC was kind enough to send me their products, however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own (and my collegiate athlete's!) ***

Football in February... It's Happening!

Happy Super Bowl Eve, Sports Mamas! I hope you've been well. I mentioned in my last post that Fall football had been canceled due to Covid and that Virginia was exploring possibly playing in February. Well, guess what? It's February and FOOTBALL IS BACK!!! I am so excited, mamas. It has been a whole 15 months since I've been in those stands. Where is my cowbell?!?!

For those of you unfamiliar with February weather in Virginia, let me give you our current 5 day forecast:

• Today- High of 51, Low of 34
• Tomorrow- High of 42, Low of 19 (NINETEEN!!!), 1-3 inches of snow expected
• Monday- High of 37, Low of 26
• Tuesday- High of 49, Low of 29
• Wednesday- High of 37, Low of 29, snow showers possible

I'm cold just thinking about it! But there is NOTHING in the world that will keep me from cheering at the top of my lungs for my boy! (Unfortunately only No. 1 will be playing as No. 2 has decided to take a break this season- more to come on that in a future post). 

So how am I prepping for this unprecedented football season? For starters, I bought a new coat. It's a parka with a faux-fur hood. I also restocked on hand warmers and am on the hunt for a good pair of long johns. Let me know if you have any recommendations! But what I am most excited about is the heated stadium seat Coach Hubby ordered me. It arrived yesterday and I can't wait to test it out. I'll have a full review after our first game, so be sure to stay tuned!

The weather isn't the only thing that will be different though. One of the biggest differences is the length of our season. There will only be six regular season games as opposed to ten. This will greatly impact the playoffs, making every single game extra crucial.

Our stands will also look very different. Spectators will be extremely limited; every player will be allowed just two spectators per game. So no big, loud, crazy student section this year. There will also be no cheerleaders, band, or color guard. Us parents will need to bring the noise!!

The players and coaches are also feeling the effects of Covid/February football. No weight room or locker room access. Helmets aren't coming home as they have to be sanitized daily. Players must also bring a gallon of water to each game and practice as there is no sharing of water bottles. They must also wear mesh coverings on the inside of their face masks.

Despite all of these changes, we are all super grateful that our boys are getting the opportunity to play. Praying for a healthy, injury free, successful season for our team and ALL of the other young athletes strapping up for Football in February!

GO SPARTANS!

Sports Mama Tip: Top FIVE Essentials For ALL Sports Moms

What do football mamas, soccer mamas, swim mamas, and cheer mamas all have in common?


That's easy! The fact that we LOVE our young athletes and that we spend A TON of time watching them do what they love!


Here are my FIVE Sports Mama must-haves, regardless of the sport your child plays:

1. Smart phone. I use my smart phone to email coaches, text my fellow sports mamas, get driving directions, access our team roster, take photos,  and to take videos. Seriously. What can't you do with a smart phone?
2. Planner. An electronic or a good ol' fashioned paper one will do. All that matters is that it is easily portable. Your athlete is going to have practices and games, usually at different times and different places. Somebody has to know what's going on!
3. Portable seating. Nothing is more uncomfortable than soaking wet (or too hot or too cold) bleachers! Folding chairs and stadium seats are your BFF. You can find folding chairs in all different colors, with cup holders, canopies, and even heated stadium seats!
4. Sports mama bag. Your athlete has their bag, but you need one too! What I carry in mine typically depends on the sport as well as the weather. A few things that I never leave home without are hand sanitizer, water, my mini-first aid kit, and snacks for siblings (because they will be hungry- even if you did just leave home 15 minutes ago!).
5. Sports Mama BFF. This is a must! There will be days that you simply can't get your athlete to the field or court on time. Finding a fellow mama who can help you out of this bind will make your life so much less stressful. Not to mention how nice it is to just sit back, chat and spend time with somebody who gets you.

Honorable mentions:

• DSLR camera (to get those Instagram worthy actions shots)
• Sunglasses (to keep the sun out of your eyes and or hide the fact that waking up early isn't your forte!)
• Folding sports wagon (to carry ALL the things)
• Cooler (to keep your athlete's drink cold- bonus points for packing extras, in case they or a teammate run out!)

I hope you found this list helpful! Do you have an essential that wasn't mentioned above? Please feel free to share it with us in the comment section.


Happy Sports Mama-ing!

Sports Mama Tip: My Go-To Sites & Apps

I rely on several websites and iPhone apps to help me make it through the season, especially when I'm Team Mama. Here are a list of the ones that I just cannot live without:

• TEAMSNAP- This has been my go-to website for managing teams for the past several years. There are paid upgrades, as well as a standard free version. Basically, it's your own personal webpage for your team. With this one site only, I am able to add our roster (including contact info for players, coaches, and parents), our practice and game schedules, track a player's availability, upload videos and photos, create a snack sign-up list, send messages (emails, texts, and IMs), track our win/loss record, and much more. There also have an app that you can download onto your smart phone.
• SIGNUPGENIUS- It's name speaks for itself. It's a free website that allows you to "say goodbye to reply-all emails and paper sign-up sheets". I use it to create all different types of sign-ups including for snacks, team tailgates, and end of season celebrations. It's quick, easy, and effective.
• FACEBOOK- You know what it is, I know what it is. We all know what it is! I like to use the "page" feature to set up a team page. It allows me to share info including photos and videos to help extended family and friends stay up to day with our team. Just remember not to post any information you wouldn't want to potentially be shared with strangers.
• MAPQUEST- Because I simply have no sense of direction. Embarrassing, but true. I use this app to get to just about every game...except for home games, of course. Ha!
• PINTEREST- Pinterest is my favorite site/app ever! Not only for sports related ideas, but for any other possible idea you could think of. Tired of the same old boring post-game snacks? Go to Pinterest! No clue what to give your child's coach at the end of the season? Go to Pinterest! Need some team spirit ideas? Go to Pinterest! I promise you will not be disappointed!
• ETSY- I like to think that I'm a DIYer, but let's face it. Sometimes a sports mama needs a little help! Etsy describes itself as a "world of vintage and handmade goods".  One of my favorite things to use it for is to purchase unique items including coaches gifts and spirit wear.

Have any go-to sites that you simply can't live without? Please feel free to share them below!

*** Update 7/6/18- It's been a little over a year since I originally wrote this blog post, and I have a couple of new go-to sites/apps that I just have to share with your all!

• Tourney Machine- The one stop shop site/app for keeping up with all things AAU Basketball. It allows me to view schedules, standings, brackets, AND results. The results are entered almost instantly, which is perfect for those games that I can't make it to because it's impossible for me to be in two places at once. And best of all, it's free!
• Waze- I know, I know. I'm late to the party. Coach Hubby has raved about Waze for sometime now, but I'm just now getting on board. I still use my MapQuest, but I do really enjoy the "non-directions" portion that they offer (i.e. real-time alerts regarding accidents, road hazards, and of course, police!). So helpful! And again, it's free!

In the words of one of my Sports Mama friends, Beth, "Sports Mamas gotta stick together and share the resources." Are you using and loving any apps that I missed? Comment down below or share them in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

Team Mama Idea: Football End of Season Party Ideas for CHAMPIONS!

The end of football season is always so bittersweet. I always try and make our end of season parties extra special for the team as the season is long and hard. And when you win the championship, you deserve nothing short of the best.


We sent our boys (and coaches!) out with a BANG! And best of all, it was all completely covered by our touchdown jar. We raised $570.60!!!


I was a co-team mama for No. 1's team, so I had extra hands to help me plan and set-up. So helpful! We reserved a private area at a local sports bar. The boys range in age from 9-13, so this worked out perfectly.


We arrived about an hour before the scheduled start time to decorate.


We ordered each player and coach a personalized t-shirt. The front had their picture on it and the back had the entire roster, including both names and jersey numbers.

We draped them on the back of the chairs. They loved them!


One of the other co-team mamas made each boy a bag of treats. Aren't they cute?

I ordered the trophies from Trophy Depot. They are quick and reliable. Our club actually paid for them since our boys made it as far as they did!

I also printed out a picture of each player with his family and the championship trophy. CVS offered the white border as an option, and I'm so glad I went with it. It definitely made them look extra special!

We all ate while watching the championship victory on the big screen! Coach also made a highlight reel of the entire season. The boys really enjoyed seeing themselves on t.v. They were clapping, and oohing and ahhing after each play!

I think it's pretty safe to say that they enjoyed their food! And then there was cake, because no party is complete without cake (or a cupcake cake!).

It was so funny to hear them talk about who "ate" who.

We allowed the boys to put their shirts on AFTER they finished eating. Ha! And paused to take a bunch of pictures, of course.

Then it was time for gifts. And boy did they get a bunch. In the words of their head coach, "this is more like Christmas than a football party". They deserved it all. Such an amazing group of players, coaches, and parents!

In addition to the shirts and trophies, they also received personalized Gatorade water bottles from one of their assistant coaches.

Such a cool and practical gift! What athlete can't use more water bottles?

And an 11 X 14 high resolution photo from their head coach. We will definitely be getting ours framed!

This photo totally screams, "Look ma, we're famous!" to me.

For coaches gifts, we collected money from the parents and purchased them each personalized footballs from Etsy which the boys autographed.

We also gave them gift cards purchased with the leftover money. So well deserved!

Everyone had a great time.

Including us mamas! Who may or may not have planned to dress alike...

The saying says, "Go big or go home". And that's exactly what we did. We love our boys. Go Admirals!

Now it's time to rest for a couple of weeks before our weekends are filled with basketball.

Until next season!

***Be sure to click on the links below to see some of my previous end of season party ideas:

End of Season Party Ideas

End of Season Party Ideas- II

Football Cake & Cupcakes

No. 1's birthday always falls during football season (usually on a practice night). Well, this year it falls on a game day, so what better way to celebrate than with his teammates and a football cake AND cupcakes!

Here's what you'll need for the cupcakes:

• Boxed cake mix
• White frosting
• Burgundy icing color
• Gold decorating gel
• Gold cupcake liners

I began by baking the cupcakes according to the instructions on the box. While they cooled, I worked on my frosting. I won't even lie, burgundy is a tough color to achieve! I feel like I had to use a ton of icing color, and they still didn't turn out as burgundy as I would have liked. Oh well. Once they were completely cooled, I iced and then added each player's jersey number to them.

On to the cake. Here's what you'll need:

• Boxed cake mix
• Chocolate frosting
• White decorating icing
• Football shaped cake pan

I again followed the instructions on the box, changing nothing except for the type of pan I used. I purchased a football shaped cake pan from Michaels. Don't forget to use a coupon! Oh yeah, the pan also called for a longer baking time than the box did. When the cake was completely cooled, I took a serrated knife and sliced off a tiny bit of the middle so that when I flipped it, it would be leveled. Before removing it from the pan, I took a butter knife and went around the sides to loosen it up a bit. After that, I flipped it over, gave it a bit of a pat, and out it came!


I began decorating the cake by icing it with a very thin layer of the chocolate frosting first, also known as a crumb coat. When the crumb coat was applied, I stuck the cake in the fridge to let it set. Once it was set (no longer sticky to the touch), I added the final, thicker layer of chocolate frosting. I then took the white decorating icing (which already had a piping tip attached-I love that!), and drew on the laces. That's it! It was my first attempt at a football cake, and I must say, I really like the way it came out!

It's also my turn to bring snacks to the game. For halftime fruit, I sliced several navel oranges (click HERE to see how I do it) and placed them in snack sized baggies. For post-game snacks and drinks, they will have Gatorades to help wash down the cupcakes. I also grabbed some goldfish crackers for the little siblings.


I can't wait to share them with the team tomorrow. Go Admirals!






*** Update: We won! Victory never tasted so SWEET!!!

*** Here's my most recent take on football cupcakes! I used blue liners and orange sprinkles to match our new team colors as well as chocolate icing for the "footballs" and white cookie icing for the "laces". Easy peasy and the team loved them! #WINNING

*** Click HERE for my basketball cupcakes and HERE for my soccer cupcakes! ***







Easy Football Brownies

Yep. I'm that mama that doesn't need a special occasion to surprise the team with goodies. Today's reason...simply because it was Thursday! I wanted to venture away from the usual donuts and cupcakes, so I went with brownies. And not just any brownies, FOOTBALL BROWNIES!


Were they hard to make you ask? Nope. I don't do hard. At least not during the work/school week. I started by baking my favorite boxed brownies. I suggest using a dark chocolate version as opposed to milk chocolate for that true football brown color. Once they cooled, I cut them into squares. If you really wanted to go all out, you could cut them into footballs using a football shaped cookie cutter. Again, it was a weeknight, so I went for quick and easy.


For the laces, I used white decorating cookie icing. The great thing about cookie icing, is that it sets, making them stackable. It even came with a decorating tip attached! I drew a straight white line across the middle, and four smaller lines across that one.


And voila, (easy-peasy) football brownies!

They were a HUGE hit with the team. Super cute. And super yummy!






Sports Mama Tip: Not a baker? No worries! Store bought brownies work just the same!

Here's another fun, easy idea. 

Football rice krispie treats!!! One of my sweet (all the pun intended!) neighbors made them for us. So cute and yummy!

*** Click HERE for my basketball brownies! ***

Football Season: A Look Through My Camera Lens

During football season, I am known as the registrar, coach's wife, team mom, and resident photographer. I average about 150-200 shots a game. While I would much rather be sitting amongst my favorite mamas and ringing my cowbell, you can usually find me pacing up and down the sidelines, following each play with my camera in hand. I may occasionally miss a live play, but my lens captures them all. Here are some of my favorite shots thus far:

They say a photograph is the pause button of life. If being behind the camera for every play is what it takes to capture these moments, there is not a place I'd rather be.